Rochester, N.Y. – September 13, 2026 -- Owl Autonomous Imaging, Inc. (Owl AI) has been selected for an award supporting the Pentagon-led Delivering Unmatched Thermal Capability–Hastened (DUTCH) initiative, backed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center.
Owl AI will apply uncooled LWIR semiconductor technology to next-generation defense thermal systems
As a fabless semiconductor company, Owl develops technology across the full thermal imaging chain, from focal plane arrays and digital readout electronics to camera cores and complete thermal camera systems. Under the award, the company will focus on developing and demonstrating next-generation uncooled long-wave infrared (LWIR) thermal capabilities.
KnightOwl HD platform targets low-power, compact deployment for autonomous systems
Owl AI's KnightOwl HD platform is engineered for high-quality uncooled LWIR imaging within a low-power architecture and compact form factor, designed to meet scalable manufacturing requirements for autonomous and defense applications. CEO and co-founder Chuck Gershman said the platform was built for a new generation of systems requiring higher-quality thermal imaging, lower power draw, smaller form factors and a path to broader deployment, adding that scalable thermal imaging could become a key enabling technology for drones, robotics and defense programs including Drone Dominance.
Fabless manufacturing model relies on U.S. and Canadian semiconductor partners
Owl AI's fabless approach uses semiconductor and MEMS manufacturing partners located in the United States and Canada, aligning with Department of War priorities for secure, resilient and scalable supply chains for mission-critical technologies. The DUTCH award extends Owl AI's existing engagement with the U.S. defense community and advances the company's push to shift advanced LWIR thermal perception from a niche sensing technology into a scalable platform for autonomous systems.